Xu Yuan sat there in a daze.
Through the Side Hall window, he could see officials striding down the corridors toward Clearheart Hall.
They came in an endless stream, sometimes even forming long lines.
The "emperor" and the "Imperial Preceptor" were inside the Grand Hall, discussing important matters with one wave of officials after another.
It was wartime.
There were countless matters to handle, tangled and complicated, yet every one was important, touching on national defense, people's livelihoods, medical care, and more...
More and more people arrived.
The palace attendants set out a row of chairs outside Clearheart Hall and assigned numbers to the officials, heads of Aristocratic Clans, and University Presidents.
When their numbers were called, they entered the hall to discuss affairs.
The crowd bustled.
Watching them, Xu Yuan grew so dazed that he almost heard an announcement: "Number 79, your meal is ready."
He jolted and came back to himself.
What am I sitting here staring into space for?
It's only an apocalypse-level Competition.
Back then, when a few developers had made games too difficult, they had asked him to try them and find the problems. He had died more times than he could count.
Come on.
Think carefully. There has to be a way.
At the very least, I need to find out what the Dark Crown is!
Xu Yuan set down his teacup. As he thought, he half-closed his eyes and rested quietly.
The maid was perceptive. Seeing this, she gently set down the teapot, rose and bowed, then went to stand guard at the Side Hall entrance. In the stillness, Xu Yuan sank into thought.
Countless scraps of information and images flashed through his mind—
He began reviewing everything from the start.
He drew out every piece of information that might prove useful, turning